FRESNO (AP) — An alumnus has left his $5 million estate to Fresno State University to help fund scholarships.
University officials said on Tuesday that the gift from John W. Long, who died in January, will provide full-tuition scholarships for at least 20 students every year.
Long graduated from Fresno State in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in commerce. He wanted his gift to remain anonymous until his death and asked that the scholarships be named after his mother, Miriam Long, who earned her teaching credential from the university in 1919.
Officials say Long worked in retail in Fresno and Los Angeles, selling men’s clothing. He also invested his savings in real estate. He had no wife or children.
Long’s bequest is among the largest donations to the university in recent years.